By Jamie MacDonald | Oct. 13, 2017, 3:08 p.m. (ET)

What are Team USA athletes — Olympians, Paralympians and hopefuls — up to when they're not competing? They're training. They're practicing. They're traveling to competitions and meets and games and tournaments. They're relaxing. They're getting engaged and married and having children. They're taking hard-earned vacations. Or retiring. Or coping with the raw emotions that come from losing and winning. And they're sharing. Through the reach of social media, we're able to follow along on their often extraordinary journeys. We'll catch you up each week on what's "Red, White & Trending."

 

#WorldMentalHealthDay

Noting a cause that is especially and personally important, Olympic swimming legend Michael Phelps shares with a young fan how his own experiences have helped shape his perspective on anxiety.

 

Team USA also came out in support of the day, and in some cases, it remains exceedingly personal …

 

 

 

 

 


Mom Genes

As parents know, it’s not just their young children who grow up so quickly after they’re born …

And, oh-by-the-way, check out Olympic tennis champion Serena Williams’ very famous newborn on social media (that’s @olympiaohanian) …

Mama never sleeps. When she does, I go on adventures with daddy. "Come on!"

A post shared by Alexis Olympia Ohanian, Jr. (@olympiaohanian) on


Must-Read …

When it comes to the Olympic and Paralympic pursuit among the very best athletes in the world, struggles are both imagined as the threat that someone might be working harder than you, and very real. In a world where there is pressure to be flawless every single day, the idea of “0 progress” can absolutely haunt an athlete. And that’s where two-time Olympic luger Chris Mazdzer found himself this past week — with a big raspberry on his shoulder and some complicated thoughts running through his head.

After a pretty long and exhausting month I have finally hit a point where my spirit and motivation feel like breaking. I get so frustrated when it feels that I am putting 100% into something and I see 0 progress. Although the picture just looks like I hit a few walls the mental pain runs much deeper because it feels like the late night/early mornings over the past summer have been for nothing... but from this point we all have a choice. Give up, or wake up with purpose and continue to grind. Although this feeling sucks and I wish I could lay in bed for a single day, I know I need to continue because I have unfinished business. Showing up everyday is half the battle and currently it seems the only thing that I will always do right. There are so many people in my life that motivate me and I want to say thank you, because you help me show up everyday and not give up even though sometimes I want to. #ittakesavillage #roadtopyeongchang #thisroadsuckssometimes #justdoit #teamusa #thankyou

A post shared by Chris Mazdzer (@mazdzer) on

And then he went back to work. Mazdzer’s very next post? One of the most intense POV videos of a luge run you’ll ever see …

… followed by an optimistic look ahead.

And a great motto …


Speaking Of Luge …

Once the youngest man to ever compete on the U.S. Olympic Luge Team when he raced for Team USA in Sochi, Tucker West isn’t all that far removed from a proper Sesame Street age himself, which made this all the more natural a fit …


Time Of My Life …

This. Is. So. Good. As part of the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Lake Placid, New York, edition of a lip sync battle, the full Baby treatment …


Swiss, Watch

For a dose of winter as 2018 draws nearer by the day, we bring you some incredible views, bright winter hues and big air from the Swiss Alps — courtesy Olympic gold and two-time bronze medalist Kelly Clark (who was on her way out), Olympic gold medalist Jamie Anderson (whose video is of the must-see variety for its slo-mo amplitude), Olympian Elena Hight, plus PyeongChang hopeful and teen phenom Chloe Kim, who already appear to be dialed in.

 

 

Good day Switzerland! πŸ™Œ

A post shared by ΰ₯ Jamie Anderson ΰ₯ (@jamieanderson) on

 

 

Flippin good time in πŸ‡¨πŸ‡­! @volcomsnow #truetothis

A post shared by Elena Hight (@elenahight) on

 

Spineroos @thestompinggroundspark

A post shared by Chloe Kim (@chloekimsnow) on

 

If u like weird people hmu

A post shared by Chloe Kim (@chloekimsnow) on


Fall Classic

Major League Baseball’s second season is underway, where playoff stories have Team USA caught up in the drama. Few had better seats, however, than Phelps for Arizona.

For Cleveland …

 

For Chicago …


She Did It Again

Yet again, Tatyana McFadden is a Chicago marathon champion. McFadden, the multi-distance Paralympic star, after finishing first in the Second City this past week, added to her remarkable run with a seventh consecutive women’s marathon crown — and breaking her course record in the process.

Team USA was represented well in Chicago, too. McFadden’s VIP posts:

Great day for #teamusa. Congratulations to Galen Rupp #nikerunning @chimarathon @wmmajors @nbcolympics

A post shared by TatyanaMcFadden (@tatyanamcfaddenusa) on

 

McFadden’s Rio teammate Amanda McGrory had a pretty good view — and an excellent race of her own, too …

To this victor went the spoils of Greece …


Travel Time

Since appearing at the Team USA Media Summit in Utah, Sochi Olympian Nick Goepper’s season has picked up speed quickly.

 

 


Chamber Of Commerce Day

There’s just something about California, as told by Olympic swimming silver medalist Josh Prenot …


Winter Is Coming To …

On the other hand, the telltale signs of pre-winter — also known as fall or autumn — have come to PyeongChang.


Cleared For Takeoff

Meanwhile, somewhere high above Salzburg, Austria, Olympic golfer Lexi Thompson …


Training Day

Back at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colorado, Keith Gabel, a 2014 Paralympic bronze medalist snowboarder, was setting PRs in the gym.

If at first you don't succeed try try again. The fall wasn't as bad as it looks. Luckily instincts kicked in and at the very last second I pulled my hand up and took the brunt of the fall on my forearm. Grateful no real harm was done. Another great day in the gym. Ended up getting a PR for box jumps at 36 inches, dumbbell benched 75's 6 times on my fifth set. And forward jumped 8 feet. Pretty stoked on another #successful day at the office πŸŽ₯ @brittanicoury . . . . #Gratitude #TeamUSA #Nike #gains #ToBlessedToBeStressed #biodapt #success #usparalympics #getup #RoadToPyeongChang #StayHumble #pr #nevergiveup #anotherdayattheoffice #EmitYourOwnFrequency #strong #mentalstrength #learntofall #sherrybdessertstudio #NoBadDays #Lovethelifeyoulive #FeedYourSoul #KeepTheirHeartsWild #KeepItContagious #biodapt #otclife #usparalympics #snowboarding @biodapt @nike @sherrybdessert @aspensnowmass @teamusa @usparalympics

A post shared by Keith Gabel (@grizzlygabel) on


Cheat Day

Mmmm, cake …


Oh, Burn

Hot jokes from Olympic curling athlete Chris Plys …


Dialing It In

On the eve of the eve of his NCAA season at Purdue, Olympic diver Steele Johnson posted a slow-motion video to sneak peek a new project, of sorts.

On the subject of slow-motion diving videos with Johnson, David Boudia, Johnson’s Olympic silver-medal-winning synchro partnerq, posted this mesmerizing practice synchro video …

Synchro action @steele_johnson @b_loschiavo

A post shared by David Boudia (@davidboudia) on


Eyes On The Prize

This is what the Olympic and Paralympic spirit looks like. Here it is October of 2017 with the nearest Summer Games in 2020, and this is Olympic weightlifter Morghan King being fueled by the motivation of a quote attributed to three-time Olympic champion Gail Devers.


The Best Teammate

Simply the best. In the eyes of USRowing, Ellen Tomek is the Female Athlete of the Year. Over the past few years, no one has enjoyed a better seat to witness this elite level than teammate Meghan O’Leary, and it was O’Leary who offered this heartfelt congratulations …


Book Deal

Congratulations are in order for six-time Olympic medalist gymnast Aly Raisman ...

 

😍😍😍😍😍

A post shared by Alexandra Raisman (@alyraisman) on

 

 


Getting On Track

His left supported by a brace, three-time Olympian Steven Nyman, who suffered a season-ending injury in February, is working his way back to full health. The balance displayed here is nothing short of remarkable — unless, perhaps, you’re a world-class skier, of course.

Hey everyone my butt's starting to look like a skier booty πŸ‘ #spyderactive @spyderactive

A post shared by Steven Nyman (@steven_nyman) on


Mission: Control

This phase of training at altitude for Team USA’s cross-country skiers is about to come to an end in Utah. But not before some speed, some jumping with joy, some posing and … just a little bit of weird, courtesy Olympians Jessie Diggins and Kikkan Randall.

 

 

 

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